The Vulnerable Adult Justice Project: A Collaborative Approach to Elder Justice in Minnesota
By Iris Freeman
The Vulnerable Adult Justice Project (VAJP) is a unique, statewide advocacy collaborative which was founded in 2007 and administratively housed at William Mitchell College of Law. VAJP works to protect Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens from maltreatment (abuse, neglect,and financial exploitation). Participants in the VAJP include adult protection agencies, public advocacy organizations, elder and disability organizations, health care providers, law enforcement, city and county attorneys, private attorneys, and other government organizations.
In this presentation, you will learn:
- VAJP history, accomplishments and future plans
- Legislative, policy and educational initiatives initiated through this project
- The critical role of partnerships in this work
- Facts about elderly and vulnerable adult abuse in MN
- Opportunities to become involved in working to reduce and prevent abuse
Iris Freeman is Project Director of the Vulnerable Adult Justice Project at William Mitchell College of Law
Iris is widely known as the “advocate’s advocate”. Iris has dedicated her life to empowering vulnerable adults and preventing abuse and exploitation. She was the original founder of the Advocacy Center for Long-Term Care (now the Tubman Eldercare Rights Center), and teaches the Elder Justice Externship Seminar at William Mitchell College of Law.
She created Advocacy Strategy, her privately owned practice as a public policy consultant. Her resume includes three pages of national and state committee appointments and offices, professional organizations, and national, state and local awards.